Battle of Kurttepe

The Battle of Kurttepe was a part of the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829).

The Ottoman army under Omer Vrioni defeated the Russian forces commanded by Eugen of Wurttemberg near Varna on 30 September 1828.

During the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829), while the Russians were besieging Varna, they learned that Omer Vrioni was advancing toward Varna following his victory at the Battle of Hacıhasanlar. The Russians reinforced the forces near Galata Burnu under General Golovin while continuing the siege. General Bistrom was appointed commander of all Russian troops south of Varna. General Golovin had 2,500 soldiers and 12 guns, and the other group had 6,500 soldiers and 18 guns. Additionally, a Russian unit under Prince Eugen Wurttemberg near Yenipazar aimed to cut off Viryoni’s connections. Some of these units forced the Turkish forces stationed at Hacıhasanlar on 27 September to withdraw to Kurttepe. The Russians intended to encircle the Ottoman army with the units under Prince Wurttemberg and General Bistrom.^[2]

While General Bistrom prepared an assault, Omer Vrioni launched an attack on 28 September 1828 with 15,000 troops. Simultaneously, the Ottoman garrison of Varna launched a sortie against General Golovin's forces, inflicting casualties. Finnish regiments counterattacked, stabilizing the front.

On the same day, a Russian unit under General Suhazant conducted reconnaissance from Hacıhasanlar and mistakenly reported that the Ottoman force at Kurttepe consisted of only 8,000 troops, recommending a double-flank assault. Prince Wurttemberg planned to attack at 14:00 on 29 September but postponed when realizing the Ottoman force was around 26,000. Tsar Nicholas I ordered the reinforcements not to move until the Ottoman army near Varna was engaged.

On 30 September at 10:00, 11,000 Russian troops attacked and captured a redoubt 1 km west of Kurttepe, followed by an artillery bombardment with 10 guns. Ottoman counterattacks halted several Russian advances.

Prince Wurttemberg continued the assault with General Nikolay Durnovo’s Azov regiment. Despite initial Ottoman retreat, reinforcements under General Simanski, including the Dnieper regiment and a Ukrainian battalion, suffered heavy losses. Five Russian battalions near the forest were threatened with destruction and retreated. Prince Wurttemberg withdrew to Hacıhasanlar, with 1,400 Russian casualties. General Bistrom’s forces lost over 500 men, and General Durnovo was killed.

Following the engagements around Kurttepe, the Russian forces abandoned the positions they had previously captured and withdrew northward. Despite this development, Ömer Pasha did not exploit the situation and remained in the area without undertaking further offensive action. The Russians did not launch another attack against Ömer Pasha’s forces.^[1][3]